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Report 1104: Perfect Piemonte and Bella Bologna: A Succulent Journey for the Senses and Soul

By Palma from California, Fall 2006

Page 2 of 18: Torino: A Lazy Sunday

We took the "Panoramic Elevator" up there!

We slept until 8, and had a lovely breakfast outside on the patio: salami, cheeses, rolls with many toppings, and cappuccino. We lounged around, reading and drinking coffee until 10, when we walked to the outdoor Sunday food market at Piazza Palazzo di Citta. I bought some lemon honey, and a small gift for a SlowTrav friend. All the cheeses, salamis, and fresh pastas looked fabulous, but my favorite booth was filled with dozens of fresh and dried, colorful spices. We stopped in a caffe around noon for a latte and a glass of vino. With our drinks, we were served mozzarella, salami and crostini. We lingered in the caffe for a long rest, watching people stroll by the market next to us.

A very sweet looking nonna came out of her flower-filled third floor balcony above us. I smiled and waved at her. She kept watching us, and so I kept waving and smiling. Finally, after looking around at all the other empty balconies near her, she pointed to herself, and mouthed, “Io?” I nodded, and she grinned, and began frantically waving back at us with a huge toothless smile. Her posture rose to her full height, and she animatedly waved, seeming so pleased to be the recipient of our greeting. Oh, I SO love Italy and Italians! She may have thought we made her day, but she really made mine!

We continued our walk to Piazza Reale, but the church of San Lorenzo was closed. We walked around the Palazzo, but their next tour was not for over an hour, so we proceeded to Piazza Castello and on to the Mole.

We went in to see the museo di Cinema, and rode the Panoramic Elevator to the top, where we had stunning views of Torino on all sides. It was a clear sunny day, and the skyline, river and palazzos glistened all around us. Lovely. The museum itself was a unique building, and an interesting stop, with vignettes of different types of films, movie memorabilia, and a good bookstore.

It was naptime, so we returned to the hotel and slept from 5-7. We changed for dinner and walked to Porta di Savona for dinner on the piazza Vittoria Veneto. I had spaghetti with Castlemaggio cheese, and Brad had gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce. For our secondi, I had a wonderful veal cutlet with gorgonzola, and Brad had sliced veal fillet. We lingered over our wine, trying to find room for dolci. We finally ordered a Giandujotto (Piemontese chocolate) cake for Brad, and I had a delicious panna cotta and coffee. Dinner was 70 Euro.

We returned to the hotel in time for the last half-hour of the SlowTalk chat with Diana in Piemonte. I am so excited that we will meet tomorrow! Domani, domani!

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